The best hotels near The O2 arena in London

Get to The O2: on foot.
Journey time: 10 minutes.
This property couldn’t get much closer to The O2 (joyfully it’s walking distance). The domineering white curves of the dome, and much of the Canary Wharf skyline, can be seen from the hotel. A covered walkway links the lobby to the main concourse, meaning you can get from room to venue in less than 10 minutes. Head to the Eighteen Bar on the top floor for the best views, which include the twinkly lights of Canary Wharf. Come here for pre or post-concert cocktails (which feature fashionable spirits such as pisco and mezcal; from £14) and light, Asian-inspired snacks such as crab and rock shrimp dumplings. The 453 rooms are spread across 18 floors, and all have views of Canary Wharf, the river or The O2.

Get to The O2: Walk to the Emirates Royal Docks station (8 minutes) and take the Air Line to Emirates Greenwich Peninsula (7 minutes).
Journey time: 15 minutes.
Sunborn is a floating hotel in a 420ft yacht moored in the docks. The engineless yacht, a symphony in white and charcoal with a long, raked prow and more than a touch of flash, could easily have been left behind by a departing oligarch. The interior features peach faux-suede, cream panelling and Finnish oak stained a startling shade of sweet-and-sour, with the sort of patterned glass, brass, mirrors, curvaceous stairs and bar that make you think of an upmarket ferry. It’s a short walk to the Emirates Air Line cable car; five minutes from Newham’s popular summer ‘beach’ and watersports; a stroll from the Siemens Crystal with its exhibition and great café. The 136 rooms (they don’t call them cabins) are spacious and light. All have at least a coffee-table-sized porthole and the executive rooms have little terraces with water views.

Get to The O2: Walk to Prince Regent DLR station (7 minutes) and take the DLR train to Canning Town (5 minutes). Change to the Jubilee line for one stop south to North Greenwich (two minutes).
Journey time: 14 minutes.
Welcome to the heartland of London’s reborn Docklands – an area that is sometimes bleak, sometimes beautiful. This eight-storey, purpose-built hotel has been well thought-out. The mood is hip and friendly with colourful lighting and a comforting use of natural wood and stone – but be prepared for ceaselessly pounding music in the lifts, lobby and corridors. There’s a large bar with a pool table, plus a fitness centre with a refreshing low-lit pool. The 252 rooms are well designed in a sleek, softly-lit contemporary style with a wooden work desk, serene white king-sized bed and drenching shower. Virtually all visitors are here for a special event.

Get to The O2: Walk to Bermondsey tube station (15 minutes) and take the Jubilee line for three stops eastbound to North Greenwich (7 minutes).
Journey time: 22 minutes.
In the past Bermondsey Square Hotel has attracted a lot of music biz types using nearby rehearsal studios – bands such as Keane and Goldfrapp have stayed here. It also appeals to travellers who like to stay in a neighbourhood on the rise. Bermondsey Square sits at the southern end of Bermondsey Street, which is home to hip art galleries, boho restaurants and the Fashion & Textile Museum. It houses an arthouse cinema and the Saturday morning Bermondsey Antiques Market – worth a peek if you’re after some silver cutlery or cut glass. The 80 rooms come with large windows and are cleverly designed with beds angled to fit in a work desk. Amenities include a wall-mounted iMac computer/TV, drenching showers and Beekind toiletries.

Get to The O2: Take the free shuttle bus from the hotel (details below) to Canary Wharf tube station (10 minutes) and then take the Jubilee line for one stop eastbound to North Greenwich (2 minutes).
Journey time: 12 minutes.
Just 10 minutes from London City Airport by the Docklands Light Railway, across the Thames from the O2 arena and with a free shuttle to nearby Canary Wharf (at weekends it runs from 4.30pm-6.30pm every 15 minutes), it’s right on the banks of the river for spectacular views, especially at night. Large, stylish, understated and comfortable, with fabulous views from the riverside rooms and decent Bose sound systems. The bathrooms are large and monochrome, with waterfall step-in showers. In the ESPA spa, the soft candlelight reflected in deep pools is so relaxing that you may not even need a massage.

Get to the 02: walk to Canary Wharf tube station (about 3 mins) and take the Jubilee Line to North Greenwich. Journey time: 15 minutes. A modern high-rise hotel which defies the usual chain-hotel stereotype. With stupendous views from higher floors and plenty of interesting design touches in the public areas, it offers an excellent restaurant and sophisticated top-floor bar, largely aimed at business visitors to Canary Wharf. In total there are 313 rooms including 26 suites (studio suites have an open plan feel with larger TVs and Nespresso coffee machines, while executives suites have a separate living area, a couple with terraces). The majority are “superior” rooms which, although compact and with unremarkable decor, on floors nine and above come with views of the River Thames and beyond.

Get to the 02: walk to the Royal Docks (about two minutes) and take a cable car across the river to the IFS Cloud Greenwich Peninsula, it’s then a five minute walk to the 02. Journey time: 14 minutes. Moving far away from its origins, the Good Hotel (a boutique ship) has joined the hipsterhood fraternity and having sailed over from Amsterdam it will be here for five years. Think low-hanging light bulbs encased in copper lampshades, faux tweed shell chairs, and paper lanterns cut out by origami enthusiasts. Tables topped with cactus pots are made of wood so rough you could buff your nails on them. Industrial strip lighting and wheezing pipes in the hallways add an eerie sense of authenticity. Views of the Thames from the huge windows are magnificent. While sipping your morning coffee, you might be treated to dock workers rearranging the buoys; at night you can admire views of the O2 arena, all lit up like a swollen birthday cake.

Get to The 02: walk from the hotel to Stratford International station on the DLR (two minutes), take the train to West Ham and change onto the Jubilee Line for a train to North Greenwich. Journey time: 25 minutes. The building itself – called Manhattan Loft Gardens and also home to luxury apartments above the hotel – is an eye-catching architectural part of the skyline here, with its glimmering double cantilevered structure rising 42 floors above ground level. There’s a lot of industrial-chic concrete, softened by greenery, including a very attractive accent wall of plants hanging from the mezzanine level. The interiors were designed by Space Copenhagen, the Danish design studio behind the original Noma restaurant. The “sky terrace” on the seventh floor has good views of central London and is a gorgeous green urban space in which to spend time.